Things To Do In SW Florida

By Eliza Haverstock | NerdWallet

The delayed release of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could make it more difficult for “early decision” applicants to accurately gauge the cost of their college education.

Early decision is a binding process, usually with a November application deadline and a December admissions decision. Students may apply to only one college via early decision, and if accepted, they typically must attend or risk having to sit out of school for a year. An early decision application can boost a student’s odds of getting into their dream school, but it also means they lose the chance to compare and negotiate financial aid offers from multiple schools.

Because the 2024-25 FAFSA will be simplified — and the release delayed from Oct. 1, 2023, until sometime in December — many colleges won’t be able to provide accurate financial aid estimates or final packages alongside early decision admissions, says Connie Livingston, head of college counselors with admissions counseling group Empowerly and a former admissions counselor at Brown University. read more

It’s one of the most common selling points of insurance companies on TV commercials. If you bundle the coverage of your home, auto, boat or life into one policy, you can save money.

But can you take advantage of that in Florida?

Here’s what to know:

Is insurance bundling available in Florida?

• Restrictions: The bundling discount isn’t available to most homeowners in Florida, where market conditions are different than other states, ndustry experts say.

• Savings: “Typically if you bundle your home and auto insurance you could save approximately 20% on each policy, and that’s a big savings,” said Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute. “But in Florida that is very difficult because you typically need to get your auto insurance from a separate carrier than your home insurance because of the way the market is.”

That 20% discount would otherwise translate to yearly savings of more than $1,000, taking into account that homeowners in Florida are paying on average $6,000 per year, nearly four times the national average of $1,700, according to data from the institute. read more

Six Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of Oct. 22-28, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

Qubanos Pizza Llc. is a food truck with license located at 517 N. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando that was shut down on Oct. 23. Inspectors found five violations, with one being a high priority for not having potable water.

The truck is still closed.

El Korita Restaurant at 3107 N. Hwy 441 in Zellwood shut down on Oct. 23. Inspectors found 16 violations, two of which were a high priority for reach activity and nonfood-grade bags coming in direct contact with food.

Officials revisited the restaurant on Oct. 25. They found six violations, but none were a high priority.

The restaurant met inspection standards.

Hooters Of Orlando at 8801 International Dr. in Orlando shut down on Oct. 24. Inspectors found 28 violations, two of which were a high priority for flying insects and a container of medicine being stored with food items.

Inspectors revisited the restaurant on Oct. 25. they found 18 violations, but none were a high priority or posed an immediate threat to the public, so the restaurant was allowed to reopen. read more